Section 12

Christian Growth and Experience

Chapter 132.

The Duty of Encouragement

1. WHEN the ten spies brought back an evil report from the land of Canaan, what did Caleb say?
"And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." Num. 13:30.

2. What did the ten spies say?
"But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we." Verse 31.

3. What effect did this evil report have upon the people?
"And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried;
and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! . . . And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." Num. 14:1-4.

4. With what words did Moses seek to encourage Joshua?
"And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage. . . . The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." Deut. 31:7,8.

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5. In his final charge to Joshua, what did Moses, speaking for God, say to him?
"And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. " Verse 23.

6. After Moses' death, how did the Lord encourage Joshua?
"The Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, . . . There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage." Joshua 1:1-6.

7. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Jerusalem, what did King Hezekiah say to Israel?
"Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an army of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles." 2 Chron. 32:7,8.

8. What effect did these words have upon the people?
"And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." Verse 8.

9. How did Josiah seek to promote the worship of God?
"And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord." 2 Chron. 35:2.

10. By what message, through the prophet Haggai, did God seek to encourage the people to rebuild the temple?
"Be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:4.

11. What encouraging message has Christ left us?
"Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

NOTES.-A dispirited man, like a discouraged horse, is powerless to perform his task.
"What men need most in this world's struggle and strife is not usually direct help, but cheer. . . . Many men have fainted and succumbed in the great struggles whom one word of cheer would have made strong to overcome. We should never, then, lose an opportunity to say an inspiring word. We know not how much it is needed, nor how great and far-reaching its consequences may be."- "Week-Day Religion," by J. R. Miller, D. D., page 170.

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